Hawaiian Floral Mist is a bio-reactive preservative that combines with the plants' natural fluids to extend freshness, said Jim O'Brien, owner of Alohilani Farms, a 50-acre anthurium operation near Hilo. Other sprays simply coat flowers, he said.
"It is not a sticky oil or plastic spray like many ... products currently on the market," O'Brien said. "It is a product which florists may spritz on all arrangements and bouquets and leis to ensure freshness and extended life."
Kelvin Sewake, agent for the university's Cooperative Extension Service on the Big Island, said the mist uses a hormone that occurs naturally in plants. "It is absorbed into the stem," he said.
The preservative was invented by Robert Paull, a professor in the College of Tropical Agriculture at the University of Hawaii.
A scientist on the mainland then perfected the fluid for use in the retail market.
O'Brien said his company gets the concentrated solution from a mainland company and has the exclusive rights to dilute, bottle and sell it as a floral preservative.
He plans to build a $250,000 bottling plant in the Hilo area. He said construction should begin in November and be completed by January.
"We're negotiating right now with (national) distributors in Kent, Ohio, and Kalamazoo, Mich.," O'Brien said.
"Flora-Dec (Sales Inc.) will handle the statewide distribution and Floral Mist will be available in flower shops and garden shops," O'Brien said. Suggested retail price is $9.95 for a quart and $17.95 for a gallon.
A percentage of all profits from the mist goes to the university and will help fund continuing agriculture research, O'Brien said.
"We're setting up a University of Hawaii foundation account and the shippers also are going to be asked to donate a portion of their profits to the fund," he said.
Flora-Dec president Sidney Hamada said his company has started marketing the preservative to flower shops and will approach some retailers.
Until it is available in shops, Hamada said the spray can be purchased from Flora-Dec at 373 N. Nimitz Highway in Iwilei.
Some large flower growers such as Green Point Nurseries, Floral Resources/Hawaii Inc. and the Tropical Connection - all on the Big Island - also will be distributors, O'Brien said.
Using the spray helps gardenias last 21/2 to three days longer and roses last "at least a week longer," O'Brien said.
UH tests showed that the solution - when used as a dip or a spray - will extend the vase life of anthuriums by an average of 88 percent, he said. It also can double the vase life of heliconia bracts, and increase the life of greens by 33 percent.
Tests at Tropical Connection found that anthuriums last 42 percent to 56 percent longer. Cut anthuriums normally live 12 to 30 days, said John Costello, company vice president. But with Floral Mist they can last 40 days and "some have lasted up to 60 days," he said.
"Anything we can do to improve the quality will help us compete with the flowers being brought in from countries like Costa Rica and the Philippines," Costello said.